Youth & Poverty
Today’s youth live media-saturated lives, with much of their free time and finances spent on electronic sources of entertainment. You’d be hard-pressed to find an American teen who doesn’t own a cell phone, iPod, or laptop these days. Even teenagers’ ways of socializing are becoming predominantly defined by electronic mediums – texting to communicate, meeting new friends through social media sites, and online gaming with players around the world.
At the same time, many Christian youth struggle to devote time and resources to God. A study conducted by the Barna Group found that of church-going teens, only 26% read their Bible each week and less than 2% tithe. Is it possible that the time spent on electronic entertainment could infringe on a young person’s commitment to spend time regularly with God?
Meanwhile, many Americans are in need. Poverty can be found practically everywhere in the United States – in urban areas, in the suburbs, and in small, rural communities. Whether it’s widely known or not, chances are your community has a large percentage of individuals and families who struggle each day to secure stable housing, food, employment, and access to the basic necessities of life. Are your students aware of this? Do they know about the hardships their neighbors are facing?
Are you ready to challenge your youth to tune out media for a period of time in order to tune in to God’s heart for the poor? Follow the links below to find more information about teens’ media use and about the needs of the poor in America.